Manure-spreader.



R. N. MILET.

MANURE SPREADER:

APPLICATION men 001'. a0. 1913.

Patented Nov. 27, K911 4 SHEET5-SHEET W fness a R. N. MILET.

MANURE SPREADER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, I9I3.'

Patented Nov. 27 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mu IIIIIIIII I F 6 IIIIIIIII 18 10 un- I: I! :IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIII a. N. MILET.

MANURE SPREADER.

-APPLlCATlON FILED OCT-301 1913.

Patented Nova 27, 191?. I

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. N. MILET.

MANURE SPREADER.

APPUCATION men OCT. 30. 191a.

Patented Nov. 27, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

s ones]; n. ner, or KOKQMO, INDIANA.

IJLANUBE-SPREADER.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Nov. 2?, i917.

Application filed fictocer 30, 1913. Serial No. 798,304.

Tov all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, RICH'ARDN. Mrnn'r, citizen of the United States, residing at. Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ivlanure spreaders, of which the following is a specification, reference being; had therein to the accompanying drawing. 7

This invention relates to manure or fertilizer spreaders, and particularly to those which spread the manure or fertilizer by means of a rotating beater drum.

Among the objects of the invention is to construct the principal parts employed in these Spreaders in such way that; l t, the positions of the vehicle body, the feeding apron, and the heater or distributor, separately or jointly, can be adjusted to. either of several positions relatively to thewheel 2nd, the length of the wheel base can be varied to meet varying circumstances; and, 3rd, the beater can be rotated by power transmitting parts connected thereto in a novel manner for the purpose or" mahing'it relatively stable and more durable.

Of the drawings- F igure 1 is a s de elevation of some of the parts at the rear of a machine embodylng my improvements, the near ground wheel being removed;

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical longitudinal section;

3 is a plan view, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section showing the parts in another possible adjustment Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view with the vehicle body and the beater; removed;

' Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a spreader embodying my improvements in a modified form;

Fig. 8 is a front view of thespreader shown in Fig. 7 a.nd

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional/view taken along the line 99 of Fig: 7'.

. FigylO is a section detail The bodypar-t: of thefvehicle, as shownin Figs. 1; to. 6, is ind-icatedby-B." It comprises vertical side walls or boards C, afrontend wall, and. a load supportin; bottom,- the latter, inthe 'rnecbanism' shown, comprising a platform E and an endless belt or conveyor F (mounted on rollers R). The belt or conveyor serves a a carrier Or feeder for carrying the load backward toward the beater.

The side parts of the body are connected together and braced by suitable devices in any well known way. Sills, (not shown) preferably of angle metal, extend from the rear end of the body to the trout, being. see cured to the lower parts of the sidewalls and adapted to stiffen and support them.

The rear end of the body part is support ed on the rear axle A. the ground wheelsW being connected to the la tcr. The front part of the body can be supported in any suitable way. I prefer a mounting comprising oneor more front wheels (not shown in Figs. 1 to 6) arranged relatively near the central, vertical, longitudinal plane of the machine, together with an upwardly arched tion of the body frame which extends from the level of the sills at the bottom of the sideboards to horizontal lines well above the top of the front wheel or wheels.

The rear end of the body. as above noted, rests upon the rear axle. Between them ar interposed adjustable bearings whichpermit the body and the parts attached theretoto be adjusted to either of several positions on longitudinal lines, and to either of: several positions on vertical lines. Thiscan be accomplished in either of several ways. Two are selected for illustration.

In Figs. l to 6 devices are shown that comprise bearing bars or plates. 9 which are secured to the body part and are provided with bub-like bearinn's at 18 in which the axle A. is mounted. The bearing bars or plates 9 can be secured to the body in either of several positions differing-from each other relatimely, and consequently-the body can be elevated or lowered in relation to the axle and the ground. or can be moved forward or backward in relation to the axle,

'Two of the positions of adjustment for the'bearino" bars 9 are shown in the drawing's, as willbe seen upon acompar-ison of Figs. 2 and 4Q The bars 9 are secured-in either of their positions by means of bolts 10 passing through bolt apertures S. Any desired number of these apertures may be formed-sothat the bars or plates 9 canbe placed in either ot several positions.

Thebeaterl is indicated as an entirety-by S. As shown, it is formed of two ring plates 1, 1 with cross connecting bars T. These bars carry fingers D, formed and secured in any preferred way. The end head rings 1, 1 rest upon rollers or antifriction wheels 5, 6 some at each end of the beater, there being in each set a suitable number of the rollers. The rollers are carried by spiders 4 and 4%, having radiating arms and intervening recesses 17 T hey are rigidly secured to the non-rotary shaft or bar 3, which is formed integrally with, or

is secured to, the bearing bars or plates 9.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1' to 6 of the drawings the spider 4' is provided with four of the anti-friction beater supporting wheels 5, the spider 4t carrying but two similar wheels 6. the other twoarms of this spider being utilized to support some of-the power transmitting parts, as will be described. The shaft or supporting bar 3 is at the axis of the beater and is situated eccentrically in relation to the axle A, the latter lying within the periphery of the cylinder generated by the beater. The fingers D of the distributor or beater engage with the material at points in front of the axle, carry it backward over the top of the latter and. deliver it to the ground.

It will be seen that the positions of the parts at the axis of the beater and the positions of those at the axis of the rear wheels are governed by the position of the bearing bars 9; and consequently, if these bars are turned around the axis of the rear wheels they will carry with them the beater supporting devices, and the beater itself can be bodily thrown up or down, and forward or backward.

I prefer'to have the same means which vary the positions of the beater also available for varying the positions of the body and of the feeding apron F; but in this re spect there can be modifications.

The traction of the rear wheels is utilized. to rotate the heater and any well known or preferred power. transmitting devices can be interposed between the wheels or the axle, on the one hand, and the beater, on the other.

A simple transmitting mechanism is shown in the drawings, it consisting of a spur gear wheel P rigid with one of the ground wheels W or with the axle, an internally geared wheel or ring 2 (secured to one end of the beater) and suitable intermediate transmission gears. As shown, the latter consists of a spur pinion 15 meshing with the prime drive wheel P, shaft 13. in a bearing 14, and toothed pinion 11 meshing with the internal gear 2. Diametrically opposite to the gear pinion 11 is an idler pinion 12, also meshing with the ring gear 2.

- The shafts of the gears 11 and 12 are supported on two of the arms of the spider 4.

Anydesired speed of rotation'oanbe given to the beater by using suitable gearing of dimensions and ratios such as will impart the speedwanted.

When the parts "referred to are made and related in the way described it will be seen that a number of them are situated outside of the side wall or board Cof the body, and a number of them inside; and also that some of them lie on transverse lines which are eccentric to the axle A. Consequently, to permit their being turned (during adjustment) around the axle, I provide transverse passageways through or in the planes of the side walls C. As shown, the side walls are extended so as to lie partly above and partly below and behind the axle. That is to say, the passages 7 are apertures surrounded by the material of the body. This material at the rear ends of the sides can be metal secured to the forward portions which can be of wood.

However, such large apertures or passages through the side walls are not essential, if the power transmitting parts, the mountings, and the adjusting devices are suitably constructed. 7

When having in mind typical spreaders of threeearlier sorts, the improvements embodied in mine will be'readily appreciated.

lnone of these earlier classes each mechanism was provided with a relatively elevated apron or feeder situated in planes high enough to have the entire load carried backward on horizontal lines above the axle and to points behind it. The beater was also situated behind the axle and generally above it. It was supported upon the side walls of the body part and mounted either upon bearing brackets secured directly to the side boards or upon. brackets extending up from the light frame pieces at the bottoms of these boards. The disadvantages incident to structures of this type have been long recognized, particularly this; that the beater exerts great strains and stresses upon the frame and upon the walls of the body because of the heavy workwhich it performs while rapidly revolving, and the walls and frame parts not being able to withstand these strains, rapidly deteriorate.

Again, the beater being remote from the axis of the ground wheels, an elongated train of heavy gear wheels is necessary to transmit the rotary motion from the latter to the former, or else chain gearing is required, and the latter has been generally employed for this purpose.

And further," the machines of this class (having the aprons or feeding devices in relatively high planes,) have made it necessary for the workmen. when loading the body, to lift the forkfulls of thematerial to high points in order to get them over the side walls.

The" machines otthe second class were designed for the purpose of overcoming. the objection last described. 1 It: was proposed to arrange the-feeding apron in low planes relatively to the ground surface so that the machine could be more easily loaded. To attain this, the axle element was bent downward at points inside of the ground wheels, the cross connecting part being arranged on transverse lines much lower than the wheel spindlesand below the body. In theseimachines also the beater was mounted on an axis considerably in the rear of the axis of" the wheels, and was supported upon the side boards or the light framework of the body. It was found that the cranking, or bending downward, of the axle, itself, introduced difficulties that made this'design very objectionable. The metallic axle, it alone depended on, bad to be large and heavy so as to have sufiicieut metal to overcome its tendencyto bend and twist out of shape'under the strains of heavy, wet loads of manure, and when moving across the furrowed, irregularfields; in fact, so large and. heavy that it was found that this design was not practicable. Then it was proposed to strengthen the axle by means of a. brace arch of metal extending from one wrist part of the axle or spindle, first upward, then across the body, above its top, and then downward to the other spindle or wrist part. Butit was found that this bracing arch had to beextended'to high horizontal lines or else it impeded the backward movement of the load, and was alsofound that it had to be made heavy inorder-to 'be' strong enough to withstandthe tortional twists and strains that were imparted by the body and its load to the downwardly droo-ped part.

' ()fthethi'rd class of mechanismsabove referred to, each haditsaxle carried straight th rough fromone" "wheel" to the other and had the'beater mounted directly thereon; In many-respects this has'been demonstrated to be the superior, form ofspreader.

Thesaxle; canebe light and yetgive a bracing support for the wheels, the'body-and the beaten. The feeding apronat the bottom of the body can be-placed' low, near thesurface of the ground, and the sidewalls corre spondingly lowered so thatthe laborin lifting the material into the'vehicle'whlle it is beingloaded is greatly reduced.

.It has been proposed to modify structures ofthi'ssort by'having theaxiszofj the beater somewhat eccentric tothe axis of the wheels,

and" my present improvements." relate; to r mechanisms-of thls s'ubf-class, 1tlitat'r1s, those in which thebeater is. mounted eccentric'ally',

though" rotating around-the aXis': of zthe' insteado'tzbetngfixed-a samba-varied to some extent to meet difii'erentcconditions. rigain, in the earlier low down spreaders, the bottom apron is rigidly held. in relation to the wheel axis and at the same distance from the groundsurface. This I have found is not desirable under all circumstances.

, I retain a great part of the advantage characteristic of the structures in which the beater, whether concentrically or eccentrically mounted, revolves around the wheel axis, particularly as concerns relieving the vehicle body and the latter parts of the frame work from strains and stresses caused by the rapid movements of the beater when at work for although the beater axis in my construction is adjustable through a long are and is eccentric to the axis it is practically mounted upon the latter and upon the wheels.

' Themetallic bearing plates 9 rest directly on the axle, and the bearings at 18 being sufliciently long to eliminate serious vibrations, the axis of the beater is held steadily in parallelism with that of the axle and. the wheels. "When the beateris in the position shownin Fig. 5 it rests directly on the axle and wheels and its weight and the strain of the work are transmitted to them practically entirely. itulld as the shorter arms of the plates 9 carry the bearings which are titted to the axle, the jars and strains transmitted from the heater to the body-through the longer arms are practically reduced to nothing, even whei'i the heater is otherwise adjusted, for eXan1ple,as in Fig. 1..

But in whatever adjustment it is placed. it prevents the load from abutting against or being stopped by llllOfiXle when it (the load) is being moved backward by the apron. For the heater is. so positioned that its working fingers or operative parts are on the front side of the axle, thatis the fingers or parts-which. are picking; up the portions of the. manure that are atthe-rear end of the load prior to throwinggrthem backward over the axle.

HIt-will'be understood that there is noattempt to illustrate or describe the "well known adjunct parts of these spreading mechanisms. The builder can; combine with the parts shown any others'that he prefers. Thusyin some spreaders backing ratchers are interposed between. the ground wheels, or'theaxle, and the transmission gear; in others use is made of .manually operatec clutchesfor-throwing the gear. out of or into action; and any suitable form of locle ing ratchets or clutches:can. -be:employed. The movableqfeeder apron, erronveyer F can be-driven fromcthe'beater or from any other prime mover-tin the mechanism either by a trainot' gerring orby an intennittingly acting pawl-and-ratchet mechanism. .-,Aszstated,' Ivrpieferzto combine w th the teed er apronsan ii'w'l'tll the beaterran adjust.-

Jill) ing mechanism which will vary, in unison, the position of both in relation to the axle or to the round; but they can be independently adjusted if desired in order that the beater may be thrown to one position and the feeder apron to another, whereby materials differing from each other can be differently handled. 1

In some territories a given farm or plantation will be partly level and partly on hillsides. In another case one partof the land will be evenly surfaced or unobstructed, while another part will have stones, rocks or stumps projecting. l

The mechanism embodying my improvements is intended to meet these varying conditions, both for the advantage of the manu-' facturer and for the advantage of the V to which any particular machine is subjected vary from time to time, its parts can at one time be adjusted to meet one set of circumstances and at other times differently adjusted to meet another set. Where adjustment is required infrequently, the details shown (the bearing bars 9, the detachable bolts 10, etc.) will meet the requirements; but if adjustment is frequently desired the mounting elements which support the body and the beater on the axle can be shifted by a system of parts extending to the drivers seat, typified by such as will be described below.

An important factor in the successful operation of manure spreader-s of this general class is'the tractive efficiency of the rear ground Wheels. They have to not only support more or less of the vehicle and its load, but they have to also impart power to the beater and the feeding mechanism. And at times the demand of power for these purposes is very great. In a structure like that shown. the beater element defines the position of the rear end of the load, and the beater being around the axle or near it, prevents the load from extending to the rear of'the latter. The tractive efliciency of the wheels depends upon the amount of the weight bearing upon them.

As the distance between the axes of the rear wheels and of the front wheels (the length of the wheel base) increases, more and more of the weight of the loadistaken oft of the rear wheels and their tractive efiiciency is reduced. "As 'noted, the position oftherear beater relatively to that of the rear axle throws the rear end of theload' to points in front of that axle. Consequently, as will be seen. if the position of the axle of the front wheels be fixed and also the quantity of the load, the tractive efficiency of the rear wheels willvary with the position of the beater and the weight the load,,the beater can be adjusted soas' to lengthen the wheel base; but if the machine is loaded with light material the parts can be so adjusted as to shorten the base and increase the traction of thewheels.

Spreader mechanism embodying the im provements which I have described: can be.

utilized to meet the varying conditions and weights of the load materials and also any 7 variations in the land conditions incident to the localities where the machine is used.

Another important matter in my mechanism is the construction of the beater drum, proper, the devices for supporting it, and the means for transmitting power to the rotary part. As made heretofore, these heaters or distributers have been constructed with a central rotary shaft element (either solid or hollow) together with two or-three rotary spiders, or sets of spoke arms, which arms at their outer ends are secured to the peripheral finger-carrying part, and at their inner ends are secured either to the shaft, directly, or to hubs, which, in turn, are fastened to,'and rotate with, the shaft.

These beater drums are subjected to se-. Vere tangential strains in overcoming the resistance to their rotation as well as the severe strains, thrusts, and vibrations,,above referred to. on lines which are transverse to the machine or parallel to the axis. And when the rotary spoke systems for supporting the periphery are employed, with relatively long arms extending from points near the periphery to points near the axle, the fracturing leverage at the periphery is so great that breakage frequently occurs.

In my construction, I apply the power for rotation at points near the working fin gers where the resistance is met. My spiders or spoke systems are non-rotary; they simply provide a radially expanded bearing or journaling for the rotary part at the periphery.

The rotary part of the distributer, indeed, may be regarded as merely a series of sets of fertilizer engaging fingers which are arranged approximately uniformly around a common axis, and a carrier for these fingers, which, in this case, extends onlya' relatively short distance from thecircles of rotation of the fingers inwardtoward their axis,.leav

near-nos justment of the body mechanism and parts connected thereto can be effected from the front end of the machine and the latter can be adjusted vertically simultaneously with the rearend. I

.Many of the parts in this machine are similar tothose in the construction in Figs. 1 .to 6 and need .not be again described in detail. X, X indicate front wheels; the rear wheels W, W, the body 18, the side walls C, the feeder apron F, the beater S and its driving mechanism, being the same as above described.

' rope or cable. 'ihe supporting-and driving The bars 9, however, instead of being adapted for direct connection to the side walls C, C, are formed integrally with or connected to rings 20, 20, which are rotatably mounted in circular bearing apertures in the side walls. Each ring is formed at its outer .edges with. a sheave .21 for a mechanism for the heater is the same as that before described and the description need not be repeated.

The front end of the body is carriedupward as indicated at K and is supported on the wheels X, X, by means of'the bracket This bracket is formed at its ends with two parallel upstanding parts 28, 23, and its lower central part is carried downward and is connected with the front axle in sucha way as to permit the axle to be turned.

The parts 23, of the bracket 22 are provided near their upper ends with gear teeth 2% which mesh with pinions 25,- 25 on a transverse shaft 26. This shaft 26 is mounted onsuitable bearings on the body. Mounted on the shaft 26 are two rope sheaves or drums 27, 27. To each of the drums 27 there is connected a rope or cable 28 which extends rearward and is connected to the corresponding sheaves 21 of the beater mechanism. a

A crank 29 is provided for. turning the shaft 26. When the crank 29 is turned, the pinions 25, 25, because of their engagement with the teeth 24: on the parts 23, 23, will cause the front end of the body to be raised or lowered according to the direction ofrotation. It will furthermore be seen that by reason'of the connection between the sheaves 27, 27, and the sheaves 21, 21, the latter sheaves, when the crankis turned, will be rotated and raise or lower the rearend of the body and change its position with respect to the axle. The'parts .are so related that the operator, by turning the crank, can cause the whole vehicle to be evenly raised or lowered as he may desire. a

30, 30 are ratchet wheels on the shaft 26 and these are. engaged by pawls 31, 31. By this means the parts can be held in adjusted position.

To prevent the beater and the parts connected therewith from being moved too far around the axis of the wheels, stationary stops such as shown at 32, 33, can be used, which in conjunction with a stop carried by the adjustable parts will limit the move ment of the latter.

W hen the machine 1s made in the way last described the body can be lowered atthe time of loading, .the workmen-beingrelieved of much, of the lifting necessitated at that time; and then either during the transportation or at thetime when the unloading is to be effected it can be again raised to such position as is found desirable to meet the circumstances and the conditions of the ground surface, as above described.

What I claim is:

1. In afertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear ground wheels, the through axle carrying said wheels, the rotary beater arranged to rotate around the said axle, means for transmitting power from the ground wheels to the beater, the feeder carrying the material to the beater, and the load-carrying body adjustable bodily vertically relatively to the wheel axle.

2. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear ground wheels,the rotary beater, the feeder for carrying the material backward to the beater, and the load-carrying body adjustable longitudinally relatively to the axis of the rear ground wheels and in vertical planes transverse to said axis.

8. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear groundwheels, the through axle, the load-carrying body mounted adjustably vertically on the said wheels, the beater arranged to rotate around the said axle, and the feeder for carrying the material backward on lines in the plane of the wheel axis, said beater being bodily adjustable vertically relatively to the axle.

4:. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear ground wheels, the loadcarrying body supported adjustably vertically on the said wheels, the feeder for car rying the material backward longitudinally of the body, and the rotary beater bodily adjustable longitudinally of the machine in relation to the wheel axis.

5. In a fertilizer distributer, the combina tion of the rear ground wheels, the body supported adjustably vertically on the said wheels, the feeder for carrying the material backward longitudinally of the body, and the rotary beater bodily adjustable both vertically relativelyto the wheel axis and longitudinally of the machine.

6. Ina fertilizer distributer,the combination of the rear ground wheels, the loadcarrying body,-the rotary beater, and the rail feeder for carrying the material to the beater and arranged to be bodily adjusted vertically from one plane to another of differing distances from the wheel axis.

'7. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear ground wheels, the IOdd'.

carrying body, the rotary beater, and the feeder bodily adjustable both vertically and longitudinally relatively to the wheel axis.

8. In a fertilizer distriliutenthe combination of the' rear ground wheels, the load carrying body, the backward moving feeder and the rotary beater, the feeder being ver- 7 adjustable vertically in relation to the wheel axis.

10. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination ofthe rear ground wheels, the loadcarrying body, the backward moving feeder bodily adjustable relatively to the wheels on the longitudinal lines of the body, and the rotary beater bodily adjustable on said lines relatively to the wheels.

11. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear ground wheels, the load carrying body, the baclnvardmoving feeder, and the rotary beater, said feeder and beater being'mounted in fixed relations to each other and both vertically adjustable in approximately horizontal'parallelism in relation to the axis of said wheels.

12. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the rear ground wheels, the loadcarrying body, the backward moving feeder, and the rotary beater, said feeder and beater being mounted in fixedrelations to each other, and bodily adjustable simultaneously on the longitudinal lines of the body relatively to the wheels.

13. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the'rear ground wheels, the loadcarrying body, the backward moving feeder, and the rotary beater,said feeder and beater being mounted in fixed relations with each other, and both being bodily adjustable simultaneously, both vertically and longitudinally relatively to the wheels.

14. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the load-carrying body, the power transmitting ground wheels, a rotary beater supported by the body-on an axis which is fixed relatively thereto but adjustable relatively to the axis of the said ground. wheels, and a. train, of beater-driving gear wheels, extending from the ground wheel axis to the beater, each wheel of the said train bemanently in operative connection with the next wheel of the train.

15. In a fertilizer distributer, the combr nation of the load-carrying body, the power transmitting ground wheels,a rotary beater arranged to operate around the. axis of the ground wheels and adj us'tablein relation to said axis, a train of gearing commencing with a gear driven by a ground wheel and extending to gearing on the beater, all the- 7 gears of the said train remaining'perma nently in operative connection and the gears of the train adjacentthe beater being .adj ustable therewith from one fertilizer-deliv-' ering position to another.

16. In a fertilizer distributer, the combi-:

nation of the load-carrying'body, the power transmitt'ing tractionground wheels, a rotary beater arranged to operatearound the axle, and'atrain of traction-driven beater-- driving gear wheels held permanently in operative engagementvwith each other, the

said heater and thosegear wheels adjacent the beater being adjustable in fixed relations with each other and,'iwhile maintained in the said engagement, fromone fertilizer delivering position to another relatively to the ground wheel axis."

17. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the front wheels, the rear ground wheels .adapted. to transmit, power, the beater, the body vertically adjustable relatively. to the said wheels, the feeder carrying the material in the body to the beater,

means for transmitting power from the ground I wheels to ,the beater and the feeder, and. means for ad usting the bodywertically while the power transmitting devices are in operative positions. {18. In a fertilizer distr1buter,.the combi: nation of the front Wheels, therear wheels,

the rotary beater, the feeder carrying the material to the beater, means for transmitting power to the heater and to the feeder, the body carrying the feeder and said power-transmitting means, and -means for vertically adjusting the body and the feeder and for simultaneously adjusting the beater relatively to the axis of therear ground Wheels. Y

19. In a fertilizer distributer, thecombination of the front Wheels, the rear ground wheels adapted to transmit power, the rotary beater, the feeder for carrying material to the beater, the body supported on the said wheels, means for transmitting power from the ground wheel to the feeder and the beater, means for vertically adjusting the body relatively to the rear wheels while the power transmitting devices are in operative positions, and means for. locking the vertically adjustable parts in either ofseveral positions.

20. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the front ground wheels, the rear ground Wheels, means for varying the length of the Wheel base, the rotary beater, and means for delivering the material of the load to the beater.

21. In a fertilizer distributer, the combination of the body, the rear ground Wheels, the front ground Wheels, means for varying the distance from the axis of the rear Wheels to the front Wheels, the rotary heater, and means in the body for delivering the material of the load to the beater. V

22. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the rear ground Wheels, the rotary beater, the feeder carrying the material to the beater, the vertically adjustable body carrying the feeder and the load thereon and supported on the said Wheels, and means for lowering the body to positions near the ground to permit the initial loading thereof on lOW horizontal planes and for lifting the load and the body relatively to the Wheels to relatively high planes to permit distribution of the material by the beaterfrom said high planes to the rear of i the machine, substantially as set forth.

Cir

23. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of a load-carrying body, the rear ground Wheels, a distributing element Which is supported upon one axis and rotates around an axis eccentric thereto and comprising sets of fertilizer engaging fingers rotatable around said second axis, and a carrier for said fingers extending a relatively short distance from their circles of rotation nward toward their axis, a relatively stationary support for said carrier engaging With it at QOll'ltS remote from its axis and a train of power transmitting devices extending from and receiving power at the axis of support and arranged to rotate the carrier and engage With it at points remote from its axis.

2i. In a fertilizer distributor, the combination of the ground Wheels, the body, the distributing element which is supported at the axis of the ground Wheels and is bodily adjustable in relation thereto and comprises sets of fertilizer engaging fingers rotatable around a common axis Which is eccentric to the Wheel axis, a rotary carrier for said fingers extending a relatively short distance from their circles of rotation inward toward their axis, a relatively stationary supportfor said tooth carrier engaging with it at points remote from the axis, a toothed gear Wheel on the axis of the drive Wheels, and a train of transmitting toothed gear Wheels extending from the aforesaid Wheel to and engaging With the finger carrier and arranged to remain in operative connection throughout said train in all positions of the carrier.

In testimony whereof, I have atlixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

- RICHARD N. MILET. Witnesses:

Geo. XV. DUKE, S. C. Mitts.

Copies of this patent may be ebtained for five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. C. 

